Carolina Hearts collects fans for elderly in Scotland County

Carolina Hearts collects fans for elderly

By Nolan Gilmour - ngilmour@civitasmedia.com

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Brigitte Laney, Carolina Hearts Home Care agency director, loads a fan into the Carolina Hearts van for the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive, which began June 30.

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Since the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive geared towards cooling off the elderly and reducing the risk of stroke and dehydration by providing free fans to those in need began on June 30 and 22 fans have been collected.

LAURINBURG — In an effort to decrease health risks from the summer heat, Carolina Hearts Home Care is filling their van with fans to cool off elderly residents in the community.

The home care and medical equipment providers have started the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive in the hopes of providing as many fans as possible to the elderly in Scotland County. Fans are being welcomed as donations and Carolina Hearts also is asking for monetary donations to purchase more fans.

“We do home care and some of our clients may not have air in their houses and some of them don’t have a fan, so with it being hot we wanted to do something and try to help folks,” said Judy Locklear, Carolina Hearts Home Care human resource manager.

The initiative is in its first year, which began June 30. Fans will be accepted as donations year round and will be distributed during the summer months, according Locklear.

“If we can help somebody, that is what we are going to do,” she said. “We wanted to let them know there is someone here who cares.”

Donations have already been made by members throughout the community, including businesses such as Scotland Motors and Scotland Salvage, according to Locklear.

There have been 22 fans collected so far and Carolina Hearts hopes to have more donated throughout the summer, according to Locklear. Excess fans will be held over the cooler months and distributed in the summer of 2018.

“Fans will be distributed on a referral basis,” said Brigitte Laney, Carolina Hearts agency director. “If anyone knows someone who needs a fan they can call us and we will set up a delivery time.”

“The heat increases risk of strokes and dehydration,” Locklear said.

According to the U.S. Center of Disease Control, nearly 700 people die a year from heat, making it the deadliest of all weather events. “We wanted to limit health risks and do an act of kindness for the community.”

According to Locklear, the home care provider has aspirations to make “Pak the Van with a Fan” an annual donation drive to continue aiding the elderly of Scotland County.

This is the second fan giveaway program in Scotland County along with the parks and recreation’s Project Heat Relief, which started in early June and has already began their fan distribution. In addition, Scotland County Parks and Recreation has also donated some air conditions units this year.

Individuals can call Carolina Hearts Home Care to recommend someone they feel needs a fan by calling 910-277-2505. Referral forms can also be picked up at 801 South Main Street, Laurinburg or completed by phone.

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Brigitte Laney, Carolina Hearts Home Care agency director, loads a fan into the Carolina Hearts van for the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive, which began June 30.

http://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_laney.jpgNolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Brigitte Laney, Carolina Hearts Home Care agency director, loads a fan into the Carolina Hearts van for the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive, which began June 30.

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Since the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive geared towards cooling off the elderly and reducing the risk of stroke and dehydration by providing free fans to those in need began on June 30 and 22 fans have been collected.

http://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_hearts.jpgNolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Since the “Pak the Van with a Fan” donation drive geared towards cooling off the elderly and reducing the risk of stroke and dehydration by providing free fans to those in need began on June 30 and 22 fans have been collected.